Base Metals and Minerals

Wrap of events affecting the market on Friday night and the weekend and a preview of the week ahead.

Wall Street returned to tracking the oil price last night, with a little help from Facebook. Dow up 125. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

The Fed managed to confuse, leading Wall Street to be uncertain over a March rate hike or not. Dow down 222. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

BHP Billiton is at a crossroads, with brokers bombarded by queries from investors as to where the stock is going.

Wall Street rallied back last night on talk of coordinated global oil supply cuts. Dow up 282. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

South32 delivered a mixed production report for December with brokers mulling the outlook in view of very subdued commodity prices.

December quarter production from BHP Billiton was broadly in line with expectations but brokers are increasingly convinced current dividend policy is untenable.

Oil price fixation; commodity outlook may get worse; ranking metal demand; and some benefits flowing for steel producers.

Wall Street continued to rally last night but on low volume, suggesting a pre-Christmas square-up rather than genuine buying. Dow up 165. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)

Wall Street struggled to hold a rally last night, leading to many believing Santa is just not coming this year. Dow up 123. (Accessible only for subscribers before 10:15 AEST)